In situ broadband pulse compression for multiphoton microscopy using a shaper-assisted collinear SPIDER

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Quantum Control Spectroscopy
• Nonlinear Microscopy

Background:

• Precise control over the phase of ultrashort laser pulses is crucial for advanced spectroscopic techniques.
• Nonlinear microscopy requires well-characterized and manipulated light fields for optimal imaging and analysis.
• Existing methods for spectral phase measurement and control can be complex and limited in application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the characterization and control of the phase of broadband femtosecond pulses in nonlinear microscopy.
• To implement a dispersionless interferometer for real-time spectral phase measurement and pulse compression.
• To enable in situ online phase management for quantum control spectroscopy in microenvironments.

Main Methods:

• Utilized spectral shear interferometry for direct electric field reconstruction (SPIDER) in a collinear configuration.
• Employed a femtosecond-pulse shaper as a dispersionless interferometer.
• Applied the technique to compress broadband supercontinuum generated from a photonic crystal fiber.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated the characterization and phase control of broadband femtosecond pulses.
• Achieved active compression of supercontinuum pulses using the pulse shaper.
• Validated the capability for in situ online phase management.

Conclusions:

• The SPIDER technique in a collinear configuration offers effective phase characterization and control for femtosecond pulses.
• Femtosecond-pulse shapers can serve as dispersionless interferometers for precise spectral phase measurements.
• This approach facilitates advanced applications like quantum control spectroscopy within microenvironments.